The Giants believe they were the victims last week when Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano gave the order to his defense to go live on the final kneel-down play of a 41-34 Giants victory. The NFL does not agree.

Two Giants offensive linemen, center David Baas and left guard Kevin Boothe, were fined $7,875 for their actions immediately after the kneel-down play incident. Baas was fined for hitting an opponent in the head and Boothe was hit with a fine for nailing an opponent in the neck.

The Giants, including Tom Coughlin, were incensed when they saw the Bucs block down low, with their defensive linemen under orders from Schiano bending down to put their helmets into the legs of the Giants offensive linemen, who were not expecting a live play, as they were in the time-tested Victory Formation. Eli Manning, not expecting to get hit, actually was knocked over when the Bucs blocked in the offensive linemen into him.

Coughlin after that play wagged a finger at Schiano and explained to him his belief that that sort of aggressiveness is not part of the NFL. Schiano stressed he instructed his players to play to the final whistle, pointing out he’s forced fumbles in that situation while at Rutgers.

Right guard Chris Snee warned if it happens again he’ll send his knee into the helmet of the opponent. The league will no doubt fine him for that as well.

There were plenty of other fines coming out of that game. Safety Kenny Phillips was hit with a $30,000 fine for striking a defenseless player, receiver Vincent Jackson. There was no penalty called on that play. Running back Andre Brown was fined $15,750 for a horse collar tackle on an interception return and Bucs linebacker Mason Foster was fined $21,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Domenik Hixon that caused a concussion and forced HIxon to miss the 36-7 Giants victory in Charlotte.